CPR training preserved baby’s life
It was early New Year’s Day when Santaquin EMS was dispatched to a call where a six-week-old infant had been dropped on its head.
By the time the ambulance crew arrived, the Santaquin police officer on the scene had already been keeping the baby alive using infant CPR.
“If he wouldn’t have been there that baby wouldn’t be alive,” said Santaquin Police Chief and Public Safety Director Dennis Howard of the officer on the scene
The baby suffered a contusion on the side of its head after having been dropped head first. About one minute after Santaquin Officer Jake Stika arrived at the scene, the baby appeared to stop breathing. Stika immediately applied rapid sterna rubs and used a Bag Valve Mask to keep the infant breathing for approximately four minutes until he was relieved by the ambulance crew.
The EMS crew took over and the baby was flown to Primary Children’s Hospital. The infant has since returned home to its family.
EMS Training Officer Susan Farnsworth was on the ambulance crew that night and commended Stika for applying his EMS training in the emergency. “It is my belief that because of the knowledge and efforts of Officer Stika, this infant who was diagnosed with a skull fracture and a brain bleed, was able to be reunited at home with his family within a week’s time,” wrote Farnsworth in a letter.
Stika, an EMT himself, was mostly grateful for his training in CPR and emergency first-aid. “It made me more aware of how important it is to know this stuff,” he said. He noted that the EMS team saves lives on a regular basis thanks to their training and knowledge, and he feels he was only able to save the infant’s life because of his familiarity with his CPR training manuals.
“I only did what I was trained to do,” said Stika in an email. “First-aid wouldn’t have done that little guy any good sitting between two bookends on a shelf. I cannot express how glad I am that I took the time to take it off of the shelf and put it between my ears.”
Farnsworth noted in an interview that all of Santaquin’s officers have been exceptional in their dedication to EMS training and that they take time to train with Santaquin’s EMS team specifically. “That’s a credit to not only the officers themselves, but their supervisors,” she said.
In a phone interview, Officer Stika took the opportunity to remind people of the importance of basic CPR training. He says his training is invaluable and encourages anyone who can to be prepared for emergency situations.
“Basic CPR and First-aid has changed a lot,” said Stika.” There is not as much to memorize and it’s even more effective than the older methods. You will be pleasantly surprised at how simple it is now to save a life.”
For a 20 minute interactive online CPR training course Click Here -> CPR and First Aid.net
Officer Stika was recognized for his efforts with a Lifesaving Award presented during last week’s city council meeting. The accolade, according to Chief Howard, makes Officer Stika Santaquin’s most decorated officer. Stika also has a Medal of Valor.
Child endangerment charges filed
Chief Howard has also indicated that the individual who dropped the infant baby is being charged with child endangerment. The man was possibly intoxicated on the night of the incident and is the boyfriend of the infant’s mother.
Ironically, that same man is also being charged with aggravated child abuse in an unrelated case. He is accused of breaking his own 1-month-old son’s arm last week while intoxicated. He is being charged with third-degree felony aggravated child abuse and public intoxication, a class C misdemeanor. Salt Lake Tribune Full Story.
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